Thursday, October 21, 2010

Hickman grinds out a PK victory over Helias

By Nick SnowColumbia Daily TribuneWednesday, October 20, 2010Photo by Joshua A. BickelHickman goalkeeper Chuck Wilson blocks a penalty kick during the Kewpies’ overtime victory against the Helias Crusaders Tuesday night on LeMone Field. Hickman won 1-1 (4-2 in PKs).It wasn’t pretty, but the Hickman boys soccer team survived a scare from Helias last night on LeMone Field.Slide Show● Soccer: Hickman 5, Helias 3After Hickman tied the game at 1 with 24:04 left in regulation, the Kewpies beat the Crusaders in penalty kicks thanks to a pair of saves from goalkeeper Chuck Wilson and a final goal from fellow senior Erik Pekkala to win the penalty kick shootout 4-2.“We were just happy to come out with a win on senior night,” Wilson said. “The best part was the way we earned it. Heading into the first overtime, Coach” Adam “Taylor said we needed to step up and come away with a W. We knew that Helias was a good team, and I think a win like this will help us build some confidence and take a step in the right direction heading into next week.”The Kewpies (14-5-1) struggled throughout most of the first half as Helias forced Hickman to settle into a defensive mind-set. Late in the first half, Helias’ Blake Wenzel gave the Crusaders their first major scoring opportunity, turning a turnover into a breakaway. The ball deflected off Wilson’s hands, but Pekkala zipped in and saved a goal, keeping the game scoreless at the half.“Chuck did his job by coming out, and Eric made a great play,” Taylor said. “That’s just the way this team is — we fight for each other. That would have been a really tough goal because we did everything right.”After being denied by Pekkala once, Wenzel refused to be denied again, getting behind the defense to give Helias a 1-0 lead with 34:23 left in the second half.Hickman responded almost instantly, as a low corner kick from senior Andy Atkins created a scramble in front of the Helias net. But after five shots from point-blank range, the Crusaders finally cleared the ball to avoid disaster.Connor Hollrah scored 10 minutes later. Hollrah sent a blast that bounced off a defender’s foot and into the net to send the game into overtime.“We started playing a lot better with about 10 minutes left in the second half,” Taylor said. “I told them going into overtime that we couldn’t stop. We had to keep going. We’re a blue-collar team who can grind it out. We definitely saw that in overtime.”Hickman had a couple of chances on a pair of free kicks from Grahm Meyer but couldn’t come up with anything in either overtime period. Marcus Woodruff almost ended the game for the Crusaders late in the second overtime, but the post was unkind, forcing penalty kicks.Atkins, Hollrah, Adam Brenner and Pekkala all scored penalty kicks for the Kewpies, while Wenzel and Woodruff scored for Helias.“We did a good job of fighting back and shipping our seniors off with a win,” Taylor said. “This was the first group I’ve coached all four years. I’ve learned a lot from them, and I’m going to miss their leadership and their humor. Being senior night, there’s so much emotion involved. Sometimes it’s hard to get in the flow.“We’ve still got three big games left. We’ve got to play better for the full 80 minutes. This is the time for our team to establish their identity.”

QUINCY TOURNAMENT IN QUINCY ILLINOIS: From Columbia Take 70 West to Kingdom City. Take 54 North to Mexico and then 54 east and north (54/19) to Laddonia. From Laddonia take 19 North to New London and then 61 North to Hannibal. When you get to Hannibal, you will need to take a right at the sign that says Quincy or to Illinois or to Springfield which is hwy 72 across the river. You will then pick up Highway 172 north to Quincy. In Quincy take the Broadway exit and go left.The fields we are playing on are located on State Street. The streets in Quincy that run West to East are numbered streets. The Mississippi River is to the West and the street numbers get higher the further East you go. When you enter from highway 172 the first street you will see is 48th street. Go left. At State St turn right and the park is a few blocks on the right. The Paul Dennis Complex is located on State between 36th and 48th street.

JEFFERSON CITY- 179 SOCCER PARK: Take 63 to Jeff City. Across the river take Hwy 50 toward Sedalia. Take the hwy 179 exit and turn right onto 179. The soccer park is about 3 miles on your left.

DESMET High school from CBC High school (about 3 miles): leave CBC and turn left (east) onto N Forty Dr. Turn right onto Conway Rd. Follow Conway Rd to left at S New Ballas Rd and it is about 1.2 miles to the high school at 233 N. New Ballas Rd.

CBC High school in St Louis: about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Take I-70 east to US40E/US61S just past Wentzville. Head toward Chesterfield/Forrest Park. About 23 miles to Mason Rd exit. Take S Mason Rd north back over the highway. Turn right on N. Forty Dr and the high school is on your left about a mile at 1850 De la Salle Dr.

CAMDENTON: Hwy 54 out of Jeff City to Hwy 5 in Camdenton. Turn left (east) on to Hwy 5. Continue on Hwy 5 for 5 or 6 blocks and can see the school campus on your left (north side of road). Turn on to Dare Blvd and the stadium is a block or two behind the schools.

SMITHTON TOURNAMENT: I-70 west to Booneville. Exit on Hwy 5 south. From Hwy 5 take Hwy 50 west. Go to Hwy W and turn south. Follow Hwy W into Smithton. Turn east on to E. Washington St. (I think this is a continuation of Hwy W), Turn right (south) on to Myrtle Ave and the school is 550 Myrtle Ave. Games are at the school.

ROLLA: Hwy 63 out of Jefferson City. Continue on Hwy 63 into Rolla. Turn left (east) on to 10th St. Continue on 10th St about 8 blocks to N. Cedar St. High School is at corner of N. Cedar and 10th St. Soccer field is behind the high school.